Alumni Family Day at the Museum of Mathematics

The square-wheeled bicycles were a big hit. As NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering alumni and their families discovered during a visit to New York City’s Museum of Mathematics on June 21, square wheels can roll smoothly if they travel over inverted catenaries--evenly spaced bumps of just the right shape. The bikes, however, were just one of the many attractions the School of Engineering group enjoyed.

Richard Mezic (’91) had brought along his sons, 13-year-old Nicholas and 12-year-old Lukas, and said, “They had a blast. There was a floor with LED lights underneath that periodically changed to form different puzzles and mazes and so many other interactive exhibits.” Mezic, who works for National Grid, a company that is not only a major sponsor of the museum but one of the School of Engineering’s most active and loyal supporters, continued, “This was a particularly good choice of venue, especially considering how involved our alma mater is in promoting STEM education. You never know—maybe being here today will light a spark in some of the kids and get them interested in engineering. Some of them could even end up studying at the NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering.” (Mezic knows quite a bit about inspiring kids to get involved in STEM: after reading about the FIRST LEGO League in an alumni publication, he began coaching a robotics team at his sons’ school, Sacred Heart, in Glendale.)

Charlie, an 8-year-old math fan, and his 6-year-old brother, James, also had great fun trying out the wide array of interactive puzzles and games at the museum. Their grandfather--alum, NYU trustee, and School of Engineering board member Charlie Hinkaty ('70, '72)--said, “We had a wonderful turn-out, and the day provided a great chance to reconnect with classmates and their families. This kind of event reinforces just how important the School of Engineering remains to all of us. ” He added, “Amidst all the fun, though, I would be remiss not to remind everyone that we’re in the homestretch of this year’s annual campaign and that many of our students rely on the scholarships we provide. We want them to go on to successful careers of their own, and we certainly want to see them at alumni events like this one after they graduate.”